In this episode of Muslim Money Talk, host Areeb Siddiqui speaks with Khalid Howlader, a decentralised finance (DeFi) evangelist and chairman of Marhaba Network. They explore the origins and future potential of decentralised finance and Bitcoin within the framework of halal finance, discussing how cryptocurrency can offer a fairer, Sharia-compliant alternative to traditional centralised banking systems, especially in light of the flaws exposed by fiat currency and financial crises.

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TIMESTAMPS: 

00:00 - Intro

02:44 – Khaled explains decentralised finance (DeFi) and its benefits over centralised banking.

05:19 – Discussion on Khaled’s career shift from centralised finance to DeFi and Bitcoin.

08:00 – How Islamic finance aligns with decentralised technology and Bitcoin.

09:59 – How Bitcoin and decentralised systems represent an alternative to traditional banking.

12:16 – Explanation of Bitcoin’s uniqueness and comparison with other cryptocurrencies.

17:28 – History of fiat currency and the end of the gold standard.

20:05 – Inflation and monetary debasement after the breakdown of the gold standard.

25:08 – How decentralised finance and crypto offer a different economic model.

35:42 – Possibilities for countries like Pakistan to adopt Bitcoin as a currency.

41:06 – Risks and potential issues of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

50:01 – Khaled’s experience with the Marhaba project and its Sharia-compliant offerings.

59:24 – Explanation of Marhaba’s wallet, its decentralised features, and Sharia-compliance.

1:04:11 – Discussion on mass adoption of decentralised finance and potential roadblocks.

1:09:07 – Potential role of Islamic insurance in accelerating decentralised finance adoption.

1:16:00 – Conclusion and how Islamic banks could innovate using decentralised finance.